Howard Finn

At a memorial service in a packed City Council chamber, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Thursday eulogized Councilman Howard Finn, who died this week, as "a symbol for the kind of people who ought to aspire for public office." "Howard Finn was all about achieving the result, ignoring the bombast or the claim for credit," Bradley said. "He simply wanted to get the job done."

He walked his own walk and talked his own talk. As a Los Angeles city councilman, Howard Finn, with his calm demeanor and gray goatee, was more comfortable talking about arcane zoning issues or city sewage systems than about more general political issues. Finn, who represented the northeast Valley, left the Democrats to become a Republican and then to become a registered Independent. Generally regarded as an expert in city planning, Finn was a nuts-and-bolts kind of councilman.

Anne Finn, widow of Los Angeles Councilman Howard Finn and co-chairman of Councilman Ernani Bernardi's reelection campaign against Lyle Hall, Tuesday angrily denounced a campaign mailer, which she said implies that she backs Hall. The flyer, mailed last week to voters throughout the 7th Council District, pictures the Finns shaking hands with Hall and states that they "were good friends and worked together to make the northeast Valley a better place. . . ." "I am highly resentful of Lyle Hall's misuse of Howard's and my name--and picture--in a deceitful campaign mailer," Finn said.

Anne Finn, widow of Los Angeles Councilman Howard Finn and co-chairman of Councilman Ernani Bernardi's reelection campaign against Lyle Hall, Tuesday angrily denounced a campaign mailer, which she said implies that she backs Hall. The flyer, mailed last week to voters throughout the 7th Council District, pictures the Finns shaking hands with Hall and states that they "were good friends and worked together to make the northeast Valley a better place. . . ." "I am highly resentful of Lyle Hall's misuse of Howard's and my name--and picture--in a deceitful campaign mailer," Finn said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs, in his first official act as councilman for a newly drawn East San Fernando Valley district, proposed Tuesday that some public work be named after the late Councilman Howard Finn.

So they got away with it. Like robber barons stealing from the grave of their peers, they did it and got away with it. The Los Angeles City Council voted to split the First Council District between Councilman Joel Wachs and Councilman Ernani Bernardi. It is not even that disturbing that they did it--it's the way they did it. The grass over Howard Finn's grave had not even taken seed when they got together in a dark room somewhere and plotted how to reward their friends and punish their enemies.

For about 10 hours every week, an uncommonly friendly woman clerks inside the cinema bookstore at The Actors Center in Studio City. Anne Finn enjoys her part-time job because of the people she meets--actors, directors, comics. "They all have a dream, the people in that world," she says. Eighteen months ago, Anne Finn had a dream of her own, though it was a dream born of sadness.

Sam Hall Kaplan's article on senior citizen housing (Jan. 6) proves that it's easier to be a critic than an informed participant. The city that Kaplan chooses to live in was created through private industry, subject to the complex rules of the state Subdivision Map Act, the city's Planning and Zoning Code, the Planning Commission, City Council Planning and Environment Committee, public participation, the City Council and the concurrence of...

The widow of Los Angeles City Councilman Howard Finn said Monday that she has asked the City Council to appoint her to the seat left vacant by her husband, who died last week. "This community needs to be represented," Anne Finn said. "We deserve more than an empty seat. . . . Howard deserves more than that." In an interview, Finn confirmed that she has been calling council members, lobbying for an appointment. She declined to say how much support she has received.

He walked his own walk and talked his own talk. As a Los Angeles city councilman, Howard Finn, with his calm demeanor and gray goatee, was more comfortable talking about arcane zoning issues or city sewage systems than about more general political issues. Finn, who represented the northeast Valley, left the Democrats to become a Republican and then to become a registered Independent. Generally regarded as an expert in city planning, Finn was a nuts-and-bolts kind of councilman.

For about 10 hours every week, an uncommonly friendly woman clerks inside the cinema bookstore at The Actors Center in Studio City. Anne Finn enjoys her part-time job because of the people she meets--actors, directors, comics. "They all have a dream, the people in that world," she says. Eighteen months ago, Anne Finn had a dream of her own, though it was a dream born of sadness.

I could not believe my ears at the Los Angeles City Council public hearing on redistricting to remove our deceased Councilman Howard Finn's district from the Valley and give it to Councilmen Woo and Ferraro. I heard Councilman David Cunningham say, "Fortuitously, a hand greater than ours injected itself into this council . . . and we have an opportunity to make certain that the agony that would occur between two of our colleagues, we having to choose between Mr. Woo and Mr. Ferraro, having to put the people of the 4th District through that kind of anxiety, anger and competitiveness, does not have to occur."

So they got away with it. Like robber barons stealing from the grave of their peers, they did it and got away with it. The Los Angeles City Council voted to split the First Council District between Councilman Joel Wachs and Councilman Ernani Bernardi. It is not even that disturbing that they did it--it's the way they did it. The grass over Howard Finn's grave had not even taken seed when they got together in a dark room somewhere and plotted how to reward their friends and punish their enemies.

Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs, in his first official act as councilman for a newly drawn East San Fernando Valley district, proposed Tuesday that some public work be named after the late Councilman Howard Finn.

The widow of Los Angeles City Councilman Howard Finn said Monday that she has asked the City Council to appoint her to the seat left vacant by her husband, who died last week. "This community needs to be represented," Anne Finn said. "We deserve more than an empty seat. . . . Howard deserves more than that." In an interview, Finn confirmed that she has been calling council members, lobbying for an appointment. She declined to say how much support she has received.

A Los Angeles police detective on Friday became the first candidate to jump into what is expected to be a scramble to fill the northeast San Fernando Valley seat on the City Council left vacant by the death of Howard Finn. "Yes, I am definitely going to run for that seat," Detective Elton (Skip) Michael said. Michael, 47, ran against Finn in 1981 and 1985. Last year, he finished second in a field of four candidates, garnering 18% of the vote. Finn collected 69%.

A Los Angeles police detective on Friday became the first candidate to jump into what is expected to be a scramble to fill the northeast San Fernando Valley seat on the City Council left vacant by the death of Howard Finn. "Yes, I am definitely going to run for that seat," Detective Elton (Skip) Michael said. Michael, 47, ran against Finn in 1981 and 1985. Last year, he finished second in a field of four candidates, garnering 18% of the vote. Finn collected 69%.

Los Angeles City Councilman Howard Finn died Tuesday, a few hours after he suffered sudden chest pains while conducting a meeting of the council Planning and Environment Committee at City Hall. Finn, 68, was taken by Fire Department ambulance to White Memorial Medical Center, where he reportedly was able to converse with doctors and members of the staff while undergoing examinations to determine the cause of his illness.

At a memorial service in a packed City Council chamber, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Thursday eulogized Councilman Howard Finn, who died this week, as "a symbol for the kind of people who ought to aspire for public office." "Howard Finn was all about achieving the result, ignoring the bombast or the claim for credit," Bradley said. "He simply wanted to get the job done."

Los Angeles City Councilman Howard Finn died Tuesday, a few hours after he suffered sudden chest pains while conducting a meeting of the council Planning and Environment Committee at City Hall. Finn, 68, was taken by Fire Department ambulance to White Memorial Medical Center, where he reportedly was able to converse with doctors and members of the staff while undergoing examinations to determine the cause of his illness.